MBB: NESCAC

[ContinentalDomer]

An interesting sidebar - Hamilton's Adam Stockwell began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Penn State-Behrend (1998-99), where he worked for current PSB Head Coach Dave Niland, who has been at the helm for 25 years.  Niland's son, Andy, is a PSB senior and starts at PG for his dad.

Yesterday, Amherst's defense was decisive.  They played like the #1 defensive team in the country.  Schneider's improvement as a force on the inside is clear; he holds his ground and doesn't bother to reach when other teams challenge the rim.  The LJs defended the paint and the arc extremely well against both Hamilton and Williams, particularly during the last 6-8 minutes of each game.  Hamilton missed quite a few bunnies, but the rim protectors had a lot to do with that.

One of the contrasts between the Amherst-Williams final and the two semifinal games was the fact that relatively few whistles were blown on Sunday, while the Saturday games were called very tightly.  In the dance, officiating can really make a difference more so in the sense that  whether a game is called loose or tight, smart teams that recognize and adjust well to the nuances of the officials' points of emphasis will often find success.  Amherst also forces teams to play 20-25-28 seconds of defense almost every possession.  When Amherst has a lead, their patience exacts a mental and physical toll on their opponents.

[NEsoccerfan20]

Hamilton definitely drew a favorable bracket. Although I do think a Hamilton/Keene State second round game would be interesting. The two teams met earlier in the year with Hamilton winning by 5. KSC's best player (and one of the best in the country) Ty Nichols fouled out of that game relatively early. The Owls have won 12 in a row and seem to make some noise every time they are in the big dance. Should be a fun weekend!

[Gregory Sager]

The HC of Rochester was an assistant coach at Amherst....and a friend of HC Hixon.  There is an old football in the trophy case in the lobby of the old facility.  A game ball of an Amherst vs Rochester game.  Will check if Rochester has built its new facility yet.

It depends upon your definition of "new", I guess. The Palestra, which is where the Yellowjackets play, was built in 1930. Is that new enough?

[amh63]

Gregory Sager.....yes, the Palestra is part of the River Sports Complex.  The basketball part had the basket ends close to the walls.  Pads were needed to protect the players/users.  Talk about a new/update of the sports complex arose.  There was an update with additions, upgrades, etc.  the Palestra was upgraded and improved it seems.  Big donor provided the funding and the New Sports Complex is named after the man who made the improvements.
Yes, the Palestra has the same 1930 bones with the padded walls...new seats and electronic equipment, etc.
went to the school site for info.  Need to make a visit soon to Big Yellow hometown...Kodak film/cameras.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

They haven't changed the Palestra ... don't need to check. We know this as a fact. Nice video of the site was featured in the NCAA brackets show even.

[thebear]

My mother in law, RIP, was the manager of the '38 Yellowjackets ladies team, she did her gym class in the Palestra...

[mathteacherjedi]

Very off topic in these NCAA times, but Duncan Robinson started (!) tonight for the Heat. 

[MiddWatcher]

Wonderful news about Duncan !Great kid; enjoyed his play at Phillips Exeter and beyond. Thrilled for he and his family. He showed a fresh faced 9th. grader around the PEA campus a long time ago and it made a lasting impression in our family : )  He is now a true pro !   Tough matchup for Midd - but it should be, given the drop in the overrall picture that Midd created by dropping the last two. Well, they will be well-rested !  Watched Nichols versus Wentworth today ( a 67-64 win versus an 8-17 team ) and their game at Tufts. ( a narrow 87-81 win ).  They are formidable, for sure, and they have the whole picture ( excellent shooting guards, some quality bigs and a good bench ). The 25-2 is legit.  But, let's see what the Midd coaches can concoct; I can see Nichols being beatable given Middlebury's outstanding speed and experience level from playing the tough NESCAC schedule.  Will certainly be interesting and we hope to be able to make the trip to NJ.  Good luck to all in the next few weeks. Am in total agreement with other posters: do not look past Keene State - anyone ! Great, great star player, solid supporting cast and a tremendous coach, IMO.

[Vandy74]

The HC of Rochester was an assistant coach at Amherst....and a friend of HC Hixon.  There is an old football in the trophy case in the lobby of the old facility.  A game ball of an Amherst vs Rochester game.  Will check if Rochester has built its new facility yet.

It depends upon your definition of "new", I guess. The Palestra, which is where the Yellowjackets play, was built in 1930. Is that new enough?

http://www.campustimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2014-01-23_1.pdf

I expect this is the project referred to.  The donation was made in 2014.  The question is not amh63's definition of "new" rather it's which facility he's talking about.  I don't see "Palestra" mentioned in his post.  I do read a few football references and this renovation was to include Fauver stadium.

[Vandy74]

Gregory Sager.....yes, the Palestra is part of the River Sports Complex.  The basketball part had the basket ends close to the walls.  Pads were needed to protect the players/users.  Talk about a new/update of the sports complex arose.  There was an update with additions, upgrades, etc.  the Palestra was upgraded and improved it seems.  Big donor provided the funding and the New Sports Complex is named after the man who made the improvements.
Yes, the Palestra has the same 1930 bones with the padded walls...new seats and electronic equipment, etc.
went to the school site for info.  Need to make a visit soon to Big Yellow hometown...Kodak film/cameras.

The big donor would be Robert Goergen.  On page 5 of the link I supplied in my previous post it's mentioned that in 2000 his gift led to the renovation of what is now the Goergen Athletic Complex which houses the Palestra.

https://uofrathletics.com/facilities/?id=4

You describe it rather well.

[NEhoops]

Just some pre-tourney perspective. Below is a list of teams from the East region that have made at least (5) NCAA tournament appearances. Scranton and Wittenberg are tied for the most appearances all-time with 28 each. This list does not take into account bids for this year's tournament. Some teams listed may have made tournament appearances in multiple conferences (Hamilton). Since what year have NESCAC teams been eligible for the tournament?

The recent success of Middlebury and MIT is also very impressive. 
                                          
24   Salem State   MASCAC   1980   2017                                 
19   Amherst   NESCAC   1994   2017                                 
16   Clark (MA)   NEWMAC   1978   2010                                                         
16   Williams   NESCAC   1994   2018                                                         
14   UMass Dartmouth   Little East   1976   2009                                                         
12   Western Connecticut   Little East   1986   2012                                 
12   WPI      NEWMAC   1982   2016                                                      
11   Rhode Island College   Little East   1975   2014                                                         
10   Hamilton   NESCAC   1995   2018                              
9   Babson      NEWMAC   1992   2017                                                         
9   Middlebury   NESCAC   2008   2018                                                      
9   Springfield   NEWMAC   1996   2018                                                      
9   Trinity (CT)   NESCAC   1995   2016                                                         
8   Bridgewater State   MASCAC   1983   2018                                 
8   Eastern Connecticut   Little East   1992   2018                                 
8   Endicott   CCC   2000   2017                                                         
8   MIT      NEWMAC   2009   2018                                                            
7   Brandeis   UAA   1975   2010                                                   
7   Elms      NECC   2005   2013                                 
7   UMass Boston   Little East   1975   2006                                 
6   Albertus Magnus   GNAC   2010   2017                                                            
6   Husson      North Atlantic   2009   2017                                                            
5   Keene State   Little East   2004   2017                                                            
5   Suffolk      GNAC      1975   2002                                 
5   Tufts      NESCAC   1995   2017   

[Conts Fan]

1994 was the first year for NESCAC

[nescac1]

Very interesting, NEhoops!  I'll add the following ...

National titles: Amherst 2, Babson 1, Williams 1

Final Fours: Williams 8, Amherst 7, Babson 2, Clark 2, Trinity 1, Middlebury 1, Conn College 1, Salem State 1, Springfield 1, MIT 1

[Gregory Sager]

The HC of Rochester was an assistant coach at Amherst....and a friend of HC Hixon.  There is an old football in the trophy case in the lobby of the old facility.  A game ball of an Amherst vs Rochester game.  Will check if Rochester has built its new facility yet.

It depends upon your definition of "new", I guess. The Palestra, which is where the Yellowjackets play, was built in 1930. Is that new enough?

http://www.campustimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2014-01-23_1.pdf

I expect this is the project referred to.  The donation was made in 2014.  The question is not amh63's definition of "new" rather it's which facility he's talking about.  I don't see "Palestra" mentioned in his post.  I do read a few football references and this renovation was to include Fauver stadium.

... except that in his follow-up post he specifically mentioned the Palestra being renovated:

Gregory Sager.....yes, the Palestra is part of the River Sports Complex.  The basketball part had the basket ends close to the walls.  Pads were needed to protect the players/users.  Talk about a new/update of the sports complex arose.  There was an update with additions, upgrades, etc.  the Palestra was upgraded and improved it seems.  Big donor provided the funding and the New Sports Complex is named after the man who made the improvements.
Yes, the Palestra has the same 1930 bones with the padded walls...new seats and electronic equipment, etc.
went to the school site for info.  Need to make a visit soon to Big Yellow hometown...Kodak film/cameras.

Given that this is a men's basketball board, and that he started off his initial post by mentioning that Yellowjackets head coach Luke Flockerzi was once an assistant coach at Amherst, I thought that it was reasonable to extrapolate that he was talking about the Palestra.

[WPI89]

Any of you guys see the bracket contests usually linked on the d3hoops site - I think D3photography usually runs it?  I do not see anything yet this year?